Salvia x superba 'Blue Queen'

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Blue Queen is one of the finest Salvias we know, attracting butterflies to the garden and prompting exclamations and double-takes from visitors.
The plant is a spectacular source of dark, intense colour and narrow, vertical form. Masses of pencil-thin, vibrantly colourful bloom spires arise on this perennial Sage, so densely set that they present a solid wall of colour in the border. The rich, deep blue-purple spires bloom in early summer and then repeat their fine show later in the season.

'Blue Queen' is a very useful dwarf and compact strain, a vigorous, clump forming variety with branching, flower spikes above blue-green foliage and lance-shaped leaves. Not fussy about soil, it flourishes in blazing sun and tolerates drought. The ease of growing this adaptable plant should encourage everyone to find a place for it in their garden.

Sowing: Sow February to June
If at least 15°C (59°F) is not possible, do not sow before March. Germination can be slow if a fairly warm temperature is not maintained – around 18 to 24°C (64 to 75°F) seems to be ideal. Start indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last frosts are due. Do not cover the seed as light is needed for germination. A fungicidal drench to prevent damping off might be helpful.
Prick out the seedlings as appropriate. For best results the next move should be to a larger pot, increasing the size of these according to growth. From the larger pots, move the plants to outdoor positions at the end of May or early June. Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10 to15 days before planting out into their final positions. Space 15 to 30cm (6 to 12in) apart. Pinch out growing tip when plants are 15cm (6in) tall to encourage bushy growth. Water, fertilise and dead-head regularly.

Cultivation:
Salvia require pretty much full sun to bloom they do well if they are planted in the shade but will have fewer blooms and be more 'leggy'. Although drought-tolerant once established, a moderate amount of water must be supplied to young plants. Water freely in periods of drought.
A typical recommendation is that Salvia benefit from monthly liquid fertilising to keep it blooming non-stop, though they will often bloom impressively without such attention.
Remove the spikes of salvias after blooms have faded to encourage continuous bloom. Some gardeners prefer to let salvia flowers go to seed. Wait until new growth begins to emerge in early spring to do your winter cleanup of old stems to avoid freeze damage. The best time to divide perennial salvias is in early spring, before new growth begins.

Origin:
Salvia is a large genus containing both annual and perennial species many of which come from California and tropical America, although there are a few of European origin.

Nomenclature:
The genus name Salvia derives from the Latin word salveo meaning 'I am healed' or 'I am well', referring to the medicinal qualities of some species.
The letter 'x' before the species name refers to it being a hybrid.
The species name superbus simply means 'superb'.

Literature:
The New Book of Salvias: Sages for Every Garden - ISBN-13: 9780881925609
Following the great success of Betsy Clebsch's first book on salvias comes an expanded edition. Betsy has added more than 50 new species and cultivars, bringing the total to approximately 150 beautiful, garden worthy species and significant hybrids. She documents them alphabetically and includes botanical descriptions, information on habit, blooming cycle, recommended companion plants, and delightful historical titbits of discovery and usage.
Nearly 100 new photos and illustrations make this new edition even more attractive than its predecessor. In her ardent pursuit of salvias, Betsy has explored the wild to collect plants and seeds to test in her California garden. The resulting wealth of cultural information ensures that our gardens will not only be exquisitely aromatic but also beautiful !